The Cumberland County Commission met last night. Highlights from the meeting include:

COVID-19

County Commissioner Nancy Hyder asked County Mayor Allen Foster in the meeting if there was anything the commission could do during the rising active cases of COVID-19. The Tennessee Department of Health yesterday reported 406 active cases in the county, a rise of 42 from the day before and a new high since the outbreak started. So far, 31 died from the virus or complications of it in the county. Foster replied to encourage citizens to wear masks and social distancing. Foster told 105.7 News last night he will not put into place a mask mandate for now. County mayors were given the power to implement a mask mandate by the governor to help cut down on the number of active cases of the coronavirus.

ISSUES WITH COMCAST IN THE FAIRFIELD GLADE AREA

The county commission learned of internet, cable and phone issues with Comcast in the Fairfield Glade area. The county attorney says numerous complaints came in regarding the service the company provides. The matter will be looked into further.

APPROVAL OF A CONTRACT OF PURCHASE OF PROPERTY FOR COUNTY PURPOSES

The county has been looking at either building or buying a building for the road department’s vehicle maintenance garage. Both a county insurance inspector and an engineer determined the current building was unsafe.  When that occurred, Road Superintendent Scott Blaylock found a building to rent on the corner of Highway 70 and Northside Drive. The property is actually for sale, and includes approximately 8.8 acres and multiple buildings. The Building & Grounds Committee voted to have County Mayor Allen Foster negotiate the purchase of the property. The price for the building and certain contents was settled at $1.55 million to be paid over three payments. This site will be home to the Road Department, the Election Commission, and the Building Maintenance department. The Budget Committee approved the purchase, with funds coming from Debt Service Fund Balance.  Since the money is coming from the Fund Balance, there will be no tax increase needed to fund the project.

APPOINT MEMBER TO THE TRI-COUNTY INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD OF CUMBERLAND, MORGAN AND ROANE COUNTIES

Jeff Waldo was appointed to fill an unexpired term on the board.

DECLARING K9 KENNEL TRANSPORT SYSTEM NO LONGER UTILIZED BY CUMBERLAND COUNTY AS SURPLUS PROPERTY

The Sheriff’s Department has an obsolete kennel transport system that cannot be used by any agency in Cumberland County.  It has nominal value, but the City of Harriman is in need of one. The resolution to declare it surplus and donate to Harriman was unanimously approved.

BUDGET AMENDMENT, GENERAL FUND $250

Downtown Crossville Inc. has made a donation to Cumberland County for Christmas decorations at the old Courthouse downtown.

BUDGET AMENDMENT, SANITATION FUND, RECYCLING CENTER $65,905 

The cardboard and glass truck used for recycling is inoperable and is economically unfeasible to repair.

AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF INTEREST BEARING GENERAL OBLIGATION CAPITAL OUTLAY NOTE, SERIES 2020 OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY IN AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOT TO EXCEED $1,550,000

This is the resolution that appropriates funding for purchase of the Pelfrey Property discussed earlier in the meeting. It was approved unanimously.

BUDGET AMENDMENT, DEBT SERVICE FUND $550,000.00

This is another technical resolution related to the Pelfrey Property purchase that allocates the first payment.

BUDGET AMENDMENT, GENERAL FUND, COUNTY COMMISSION $94,950

This resolution approved funds for work at the Pelfrey Property buildings to prepare them for the Election Commission, including items such as safety railing, security, networking, etc.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY FINANCIAL REPORT

Cumberland County Finance Director Nathan Brock gave the monthly finance report to the county commission:

Emergency Medical Services collections for the month were $406,347 which is $70,014 over the monthly budgeted number of $333,333.  Year to date the county is $258,864 ahead of projections.

Sales tax collections for the General Purpose School Fund came in at $919,285 which is $50,787 above projections. Year to date the county collected $2,892,529 and are $243,137 above budget.

Property tax notices have been sent out, and year to date the county collected 14.1% of budget compared to 16.7% at this point last year.

Cumulative Hotel/Motel taxes are $233,757 which is 34.9% of the budget.  The budgeted amount was revised down for this year to $668,166 from $817,283.  Last year, with the larger budgeted amount, the county collected $253,905, or 31.1% of budget, at this point.

Cumulative prisoner boarding collections are $99,645, or 16.54%, of the $602,396 annual budget.